The following is based on my personal ecxperience and is in my opinion: This has got to be one of the best forks on the market in the 160mm travel range (All Mountain/Enduro discipline). I have the 2011 model and have been using the Lyrik for the past year. I have used similar products from other manufacturers such as the Marz 55, Fox Talas and Vanilla 36, none of these are bad forks, its just the Lyrik outshines them in every singel way. First of all Air forks might be lighter but their reliability is much less than a coil fork (Air version 2180 vs. coil 2370 190g difference not that this matters to me). All Air forks that I've owned failed on me when I least expected it. I am one of those miticulous guys cleaning my bike and ALL parts after each ride, yes I do the earbud thing to get the coggs in the casette real clean. This said I have my bike and parts services regularly by professional like minded passionate bikers who know what they're doing. I rode the competition's coil and this was great but had limited adjustability. The Lyrik goes from 160mm - 115mm in mere seconds and even on the fly if you have to ;). The RC2 L cartridge is super adjustable for any type of trail. you can adjust high and low speed compression on the trail and a flood gate setting for those locked out gnarly hits that come out of know where without damaging the fork, unlike some air models when locked out. For the versatile terrain we ride this is the go to fork in any situation. Thin-air descents from 12 000ft down over loose dirt and rocks to 5ft to 6ft drops to flat, insane 80ft rock gardens at high speed to XC trails with ruts, roots and switch-backs. I think of this fork and all I want to do is go ride!